AMOS: WITH LIBERTY & JUSTICE FOR ALL “Let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!” AMOS: WITH LIBERTY & JUSTICE FOR ALL

Minor Prophets Hosea: Idolatry is like adultery. Joel: The Day of the LORD is near. Micah: Act justly, love mercy, & walk humbly with your God.

Amos Shepherd of Tekoa (1:1), and cared for sycamore-fig trees (7:14). “I am neither a prophet nor a prophet’s son.” (7:14). A lay preacher in Northern Israel at the same time as Hosea.

Amos Amos points out social sins and how they treat people (not just Israel, but the nations all around). “For 3 transgressions and for 4” indicates the full measure of their sin (1:3; 1:6; 1:9; 1:11; 1:13; 2:1; 2:4; 2:6;).

Judgment on 8 Nations 1. Damascus—treated Gilead like a pile of grain. 2. Gaza—profited over the slave trade. 3. Tyre—sold Israel into slavery. 4. Edom—cruel to her brother. 5. Ammon—cruel to Gilead. 6. Moab—cruel to Edom. 7. Judah—broke covenant & despised God’s law.

Judgment on 8 Nations 8. Israel—(2:6ff) Oppressed the poor (2:6-7). Abused women (2:7). No respect for God’s servants (2:12). Full of sin (3:15). Refused to return to God (4:1-13). “Woe to you” (5:18). “Woe to you who are at ease in Zion” (6:1).

Israel has not returned to God I gave you empty stomachs—yet you have not returned (4:6). I withheld the rain—yet you have not returned (4:7-8). I struck your gardens—yet you have not returned (4:9). I sent plagues—yet you have not returned (4:10).

Israel has not returned to God I overthrew you –yet you have not returned(4:11). You were like a firebrand plucked out of the burning—yet you have not returned (4:11). “Prepare to meet your God” (4:12).

Amos pleads with them Prepare to meet your God (4:12). Seek me and live (5:4). Seek the LORD and live (5:6). Seek good not evil (5:14). Maintain justice (5:15).

Amos 5:12-24

Amos 5:24 “But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!” “But you have turned justice into poison and the fruit of righteousness into bitterness.” (6:12)

5 Visions of Amos 1. Swarm of locusts—7:1-3 2. Fire—7:4-6 3. Plumb line—7:7-9. 4. Ripe fruit—8:1ff. 5. The LORD standing by the altar—9:1ff.

Amos 9:8 “Surely the eyes of the Sovereign LORD are on the sinful kingdom. I will destroy it from the face of the earth—yet I will not totally destroy the house of Jacob, declares the LORD.” In that day I will restore David’s fallen tent. I will repair..I will restore…and build…all the nations that bear my name, declares the LORD.” (9:11-12).

What about America? 1720’s--The 1st Great Awakening (50,000 out of 300,000 in New England got saved and most baptized). In the 1720’s our nation was largely de- Christianized. Revival & prayer meetings began in New Jersey, Pastor Frelinghuysen. 1734—Jonathan Edwards in Massachusetts. 1739—George Whitefield in New England.

1st Great Awakening “Esp. in New England… this extreme Protestantism… was helping to shape the nascent nation…it was laying the foundation for the democracy which found expression in the American Revolution and the United States.” Kenneth Scott Latourette

2nd Great Awakening Early 1800’s the USA had fallen back into terrible sin(s). 1799--Camp meetings in Kentucky; 15,000 at one mtg.—10,000 join churches in Kentucky by 1803! Circuit riding preachers reach the wild west. Baptists in the South, Methodists in the North. 1812—Modern missionary movement begins. 1830’s Charles Finney in New York saw 100,000 come to faith in Christ.

We need a 3rd Awakening Sexual immorality is out of control. Homosexuality is rampant. Abortion kills 1.25 million persons per year. Pornography pervades the internet, etc. Bribery and theft riddle our financial system. Loss of our religious freedoms. Drug problems abound and related crime. Domestic abuse, absentee parents, divorce, etc., etc., etc.

Amos 5:24 “Let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!”